Impact/Value

Articles

Expanding its work around issues of equity and inclusion in classical music, the Sphinx Organization has launched EXIGENCE, a new professional vocal ensemble made up of singers of color. What were the impulses that led to the creation of EXIGENCE? Why is this development important to the choral field?
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Nonprofit leader, humor blogger, and truth-teller. It’s a unique job description, but a perfect fit for Vu Le. Le is the executive director of Seattle-based social justice organization Rainier Valley Corps and the author of NonprofitAF.com, a blog that mixes pop culture and pictures of baby animals with candid insight into the current state of nonprofits.
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In early 20th-century Chicago, the intersection of classical and gospel church traditions gave birth to the modern gospel chorus movement. This history has made Chicago the gospel choir capital of the world—and continues to have an impact on ensemble singing today.
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More and more choruses are practicing advocacy inside the concert hall, representing social justice and community issues in their performances. What kinds of steps are they taking to ensure that singers are on the same page so that they can perform as a collective?
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There are seemingly countless ways to make the case for the arts. The trick is knowing which ones are most effective. Leaders at five different arts organizations explain how they talk about the value of the arts, and how those messages are connecting with the audiences they are trying to reach.
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Chorus America's 2018 Commission Consortium Composers

Each month, Chorus America profiles one of our members in our Meet A Member interview series. To mark the season of giving, we often change things up a little bit for December by speaking with Chorus America donors. This year, we spoke to Hussein Janmohamed and Joan Szymko, the two composers donating compositions for Chorus America’s 2018 Commission Consortiums.
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In an effort to renew our understanding of the roles, responsibilities, and challenges choral conductors encounter and how they affect the choral ecosystem, Chorus America undertook a new study, updating survey findings from a decade ago. The results highlight both important challenges and reasons to feel confident about the health of the profession.
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This issue of the American Choral Review examines the life and legacy of little-known conductor Theodore Thomas, who in the mid 19th-century almost single-handedly built two of the premiere orchestras in the country and was one of the first conductors to treat the chorus as a serious ensemble, fostering performances of large choral-orchestral works.
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In celebration of the Britten centennial in 2013, this issue of American Choral Review features two articles on the music of Benjamin Britten: distinguished scholar Alfred Whittall offers reflections on the composer’s choral writing, and co-authors Thomas Folan and Nancy S. Niemi explore issues of identity in Britten’s Cantata Academica.
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Given the situation at the federal, state, and local levels, Chorus America developed this guide to help chart a path toward proactive advocacy on behalf of choral music education. Contains a step-by-step advocacy plan as well as research and statistics on the value of choral singing in school from more than 40 studies.
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Chorus America’s member choruses all across North America are leading the way in working with school music programs to support, revive, or expand choral
music education. Here are some examples of how our members are creatively partnering with schools.
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In the 21st century, America’s manufacturing-driven economy is being replaced by a creative economy. President Obama is calling for a “complete and competitive education” to ensure our place in the global economy. How do the arts—and choral music specifically—help prepare our students to meet these challenges?
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Detroit, MI: Hartford Memorial Baptist Church

EXIGENCE, the new Sphinx Organization vocal ensemble, is dedicated to the belief that there is a great need, an exigence, for diversity in the arts and the world of choral music. Lead by founding conductor Eugene Rogers, EXIGENCE is comprised of vocal artists within the Black and Latino communities, including solo performers, voice-teachers, conductors and composers who recognize the power of community and expression through choral music.
A Vision Unfolding is the inaugural performance by this groundbreaking group and will feature a range of music from traditional classical concert repertoire to newly commissioned works by Black and Latino composers. Using three perspectives of the concert theme, A Vision Unfolding of mercy, equanimity and hope, the program includes works by Verdi, Beethoven, Villa-Lobos, Woo, Guillaume, Castañeda, Hearne, Hill and two premieres – A Vision Unfolding by Derrick Spiva, Jr. and Caged Bird by Joel Thompson.
A Vision Unfolding at the Hartford Baptist Memorial Church in Detroit on February 2nd, 2018, is a part of SphinxConnect – Sphinx's national convention, the epicenter for artists and leaders in diversity. Tickets for A Vision Unfolding will be available online or at the door. This inaugural performance by EXIGENCE will be followed by a performance on Feb. 4th at the Finals Concert of the national Sphinx Competition for young Black and Latino string players (tickets sold separately).
Please join us for what is sure to be an unforgettable evening of music with EXIGENCE: A Vision Unfolding.
“We believe that vocal concert music continues to need more voices at the table from disparate backgrounds and perspectives”
–Dr. Eugene Rogers, EXIGENCE founding director
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Seattle, WA

Seattle Pro Musica will join more than two dozen renowned performing arts organizations in a citywide celebration of William Shakespeare. Sounds and Sweet Airs will showcase choral settings of poetry and prose by the Bard of Avon – including world premieres from Northwest composers Jessica French, Don Skirvin, and Giselle Wyers.
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Harmonium Choral Society presents a choral musicianship workshop for diversity and inclusivity on Sunday, November 5, 2017 from 2pm until 5pm at Grace Episcopal Church, 4 Madison Ave at Kings Road, Madison, NJ. Exploring Inclusivity and Diversity in the Choral Rehearsal or Music Classroom, with clinician Elise Figa, is appropriate for all singers.
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50 S Park Pl, Morristown, NJ 07960

This year’s December concert, "Fear Not," is a collage concert with strings, ranging from Monteverdi to Schoenberg. It will include works by Abbie Betinis and John Rutter, premieres of works by Dale Trumbore and Michael Bussewitz-Quarm, and multicultural carols.
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Ardea Arts announces the World Premiere of BOUNCE The Basketball Opera. Performances will take place at Calvary Baptist Church Recreation Center, 150 E. High Street, Lexington, KY, on Friday and Saturday, November 10 & 11 at 7:30pm, and Sunday, November 12at 2pm. General Admission, $18, Students $9. For more information, visit www.ardeaarts.com/bounce/.
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Portland, OR

Blueprint Ensemble Arts and Theatre Initiative is a Portland-based non-profit performing arts and choral orgnaization that strives to expand the profile and appreciation of music and the performing arts, while making them accessible to all.
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125 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT

Ring in the holidays with the Fairfield County Chorale. The joyful and festive program features Handel's Dixit Dominus and Vivaldi's Gloria, as well as Baroque favorites by Handel and Bach. Then, in what has fast become a popular FCC tradition, the audience is invited to sing along with the Chorale to a selection of carols and other holiday favorites.
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1375 Presidents Cir, Salt Lake City, UT 84112

The internationally renowned One Voice Children’s Choir presents their summer concert “Shine” on Saturday, June 11, 2016, at the University of Utah’s Libby Gardner Hall. Joining One Voice Children’s Choir for this special concert is the outstanding Phoenix Children’s Chorus.
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Dialogue

We know intrinsically that chorus education programs provide great benefit to those involved—but actual data would help. Can anyone offer some specific examples of the impact of their programs?
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